Bwipo Expected To Return To Top Lane With Team Liquid

Long-time Fnatic star Gabriel "Bwipo" Rau will reportedly be leaving the organsation after nearly four years, as he looks to try his hand in the top lane again for a new team.

The legendary Belgian switched away from the top lane for the second time in his career during the 2021 season, applying himself in the jungler role as French rookie Adam "Adam" Maanane stepped into the wide vacated position. However, with Fnatic's season ending in turmoil, Bwipo now looks set to be signing for Team Liquid and moving back into his usual role, according to reports from LEC Wooloo.

According to the leak, Bwipo has reached a verbal agreement to join Team Liquid for the 2022 season, switching back to the top lane.

The move would see Bwipo leave the LEC in favour of the LCS, following in the footsteps of Barney "Alphari" Morris, whose role he will be taking over. 

Alphari is set to be leaving Team Liquid in what appears to be a very busy off-season for both of the Western regions, as the 22-year-old Brit is expected to be joining Luka "Perkz" Perkovic in moving back to the LEC after a single season abroad. With Bwipo heading in the other direction, both Alphari and Perkz are reported to be a part of a proposed "superteam" at Team Vitality.

Team Liquid have a history of bringing in European talent to their American roster, already boasting the jungler and mid-lane duo of Lucas "Santorin" Tao Kilmer Larson and Nicolaj "Jensen" Jensen respectively. The two Danes were pivotal in pushing Team Liquid into the Worlds 2021 spot, although the organisation was defeated in a group deciding tiebreaker by Gen.G.

As for Bwipo's replacement, it's unclear as to who Fnatic are targeting, following their own rebuilding job. After losing all-but one fixture at worlds, despite the absence of their best player Elias "Upset" Lipp, Fnatic seemingly need to cherry-pick a top-tier jungler if they want to recapture their former glory.